In my paper, I plan to discuss the heighten security practices by governments and corporations due to the global war on terrorism. What we need to ask is if these increased measures have been beneficial or haven’t had the impact it should have. The war on terror has created and implemented greater security procedures for all people. These greater security procedures were implemented so that acts of terrorism will not and cannot happen again. The past security procedures were not up to par and were not capable to protect the rights and safety of the residents and visitors. Some procedures though have attained negative feedback due to its severely flawed moral grounds.
“The greatest threat facing our nation in the 21st century is the danger of terrorist networks or terrorist states armed with weapons of mass destruction. We're taking decisive action at home and abroad to defend our people from this danger. With bold investments today, we can ensure that the men and women in this hall have the tools you need to confront the threats of tomorrow. We will ensure that you have the tools necessary to do the solemn duty of protecting the American people from harm.” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium) On the day of September 11, 2001, the war on terror had just begun. The US government had information about an attack on home soil and been warned several times that and the likely hood of an attack was very likely. The US government though brushes these warnings off. On September 11, President Bush was in a small Florida elementary school reading to kindergarteners the story ‘My Pet Goat’. On September 11, two Boeings 747’s, hit the twin towers in New York City, American Airlines flight 77 at 9:37 AM had hit the US Pentagon. However, there a fourth plane, was headed towards the White House, but then later crashed in a field in Pennsylvania . At 9:42 AM, senior air traffic controllers in the US ordered all planes to land at the nearest available landing strip. Both Twin Towers that had been hit by the Boeing 747’s, fell down, this was the first time that a steel frame building had fallen down in history, but this happened twice. The plane that hit the Pentagon would have been much more severe had people not been evacuated. The plane that was intended to hit the White House would have created significant damage and death. September 11th, is a defining moment not only in American history as the most horrific attack on American soil, but the day the world changed (CBC, 2009). President Bush described the effects that the 9/11 attacks had on Americans
“One of the most important defensive measures we have taken is the deployment of new capabilities to defend America against ballistic missile attack. On 9/11, we saw the damage our enemies could do by hijacking planes loaded with jet fuel, and turning them into missiles, and using them to kill the innocent. Today, dangerous regimes are pursuing far more powerful capabilities, and building ballistic missiles that could allow them to deliver these weapons to American cities” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium)
On August 10th 2006, there was another attempt to create havoc using a plane, someone was going to blow up a plane with a bomb that he had in his shoe. The airports today, have many new features and security practices that are put in place so that there is not another 9/11. To move quickly through the check in, Canadian airports now require you have identification with a person's full legal name, gender, date of birth, nationality and travel document number (boarding ticket, passport) before you can board the plane. On top of that, passengers are now only allowed to bring on one carry on and pocketbook or briefcase. People who need to bring a medical kit to deal with diabetes now need to bring a medical note from their doctor stating that they have a condition and that they need the kit. While going through security at the check in, you have to remove your shoes to make sure you’re not hiding anything. On top of the regular security check before you board, there are also random security checks when the security and police are suspicious. After the 9/11 attacks on New York, the entire world went into a state of shock. but it did not stop people from coming up with new and creative ways of committing horrific atrocities. One person was creative enough to place a bomb in his shoe, and wear it onto the airplane (CBC, 2009) .
Many people have turned sour note on the United States position on going “war” based on trying to find weapons of mass destruction, and when they could not find weapons of mass destruction, they have decided to stay there, upsetting many people not only many people not only in their own land but people in the land they are in right now (Associated Press, 2006). Many people though believe that the new security measures that have been placed have provided increased security for their safety. President Bush once stated that
“Today, our adversaries have changed. We no longer worry about a massive Soviet first strike. We worry about terrorist states and terrorist networks that might not be deterred by our nuclear forces. To deal with such adversaries we need a new approach to deterrence. This approach combines deep reductions in offensive nuclear forces with new, advanced conventional capabilities and defenses to protect free people from nuclear blackmail or attack” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium, 2007) “In this war, we're on the offensive against the enemy -- and that's the only way to be. We'll fight them in foreign lands so we don't have to face them here in America. We'll pursue the terrorists across the world. We'll take every lawful and effective measure to protect ourselves here at home. In an age when terrorist networks and terrorist states are seeking weapons of mass destruction, we must be ready to defend our nation against every possible avenue of attack. I've come today to discuss the actions we're taking to keep our people safe -- and to update you on the progress of an initiative I announced on this very campus in 2001, and that is our efforts to defend America against a ballistic missile attack. My administration made a commitment to the American people then that we will defend you against all forms of terror -- including the terror that could arrive as a result of a missile. And we're keeping that commitment” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium, 2007) The main stakeholders of this greater security situation would be everybody. The catastrophic situation of 9/11 affects everybody, from the blue collar Joe to the men and women in the military. Anybody who travels now has to deal with the increased time for security at airports, the border and customs (Canada Border Service Agency). All packages that go through customs now are check thoroughly so that items that are considered harmful are not delivered into the hands of the bad people. Though these time delays are much more extensive and can see more exhausting, these have been put in place so that atrocities like 9/11 don’t happen again. Not only have these measures been put up so that the people can be safe, but the American government has gone as far as to place the Patriot Act, in which the US government can detain you if they believe that you are capable or might perform an act of terrorism (USA Patriot Act, United States Government, 2001). The US government has the right to listing on your phone conversation.
“In January 2006, bin Laden warned the American people: "Operations are under preparation and you will see them on your own ground once they are finished." Seven months later, British authorities broke up the most ambitious known al-Qaeda threat related to the U.S. since the 9/11 attacks: a plot to blow up passenger airplanes flying to America. Our Intelligence Community believes that this plot was just two or three weeks away from execution. If it had been carried out, it could have rivaled 9/11 in death and destruction.” ( The White House, US Policy Belgium, 2007)
“The greatest threat facing our nation in the 21st century is the danger of terrorist networks or terrorist states armed with weapons of mass destruction. We're taking decisive action at home and abroad to defend our people from this danger. With bold investments today, we can ensure that the men and women in this hall have the tools you need to confront the threats of tomorrow. We will ensure that you have the tools necessary to do the solemn duty of protecting the American people from harm.” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium)
On the day of September 11, 2001, the war on terror had just begun. The US government had information about an attack on home soil and been warned several times that and the likely hood of an attack was very likely. The US government though brushes these warnings off. On September 11, President Bush was in a small Florida elementary school reading to kindergarteners the story ‘My Pet Goat’. On September 11, two Boeings 747’s, hit the twin towers in New York City, American Airlines flight 77 at 9:37 AM had hit the US Pentagon. However, there a fourth plane, was headed towards the White House, but then later crashed in a field in Pennsylvania . At 9:42 AM, senior air traffic controllers in the US ordered all planes to land at the nearest available landing strip. Both Twin Towers that had been hit by the Boeing 747’s, fell down, this was the first time that a steel frame building had fallen down in history, but this happened twice. The plane that hit the Pentagon would have been much more severe had people not been evacuated. The plane that was intended to hit the White House would have created significant damage and death. September 11th, is a defining moment not only in American history as the most horrific attack on American soil, but the day the world changed (CBC, 2009).
President Bush described the effects that the 9/11 attacks had on Americans
“One of the most important defensive measures we have taken is the deployment of new capabilities to defend America against ballistic missile attack. On 9/11, we saw the damage our enemies could do by hijacking planes loaded with jet fuel, and turning them into missiles, and using them to kill the innocent. Today, dangerous regimes are pursuing far more powerful capabilities, and building ballistic missiles that could allow them to deliver these weapons to American cities” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium)
On August 10th 2006, there was another attempt to create havoc using a plane, someone was going to blow up a plane with a bomb that he had in his shoe. The airports today, have many new features and security practices that are put in place so that there is not another 9/11. To move quickly through the check in, Canadian airports now require you have identification with a person's full legal name, gender, date of birth, nationality and travel document number (boarding ticket, passport) before you can board the plane. On top of that, passengers are now only allowed to bring on one carry on and pocketbook or briefcase. People who need to bring a medical kit to deal with diabetes now need to bring a medical note from their doctor stating that they have a condition and that they need the kit. While going through security at the check in, you have to remove your shoes to make sure you’re not hiding anything. On top of the regular security check before you board, there are also random security checks when the security and police are suspicious. After the 9/11 attacks on New York, the entire world went into a state of shock. but it did not stop people from coming up with new and creative ways of committing horrific atrocities. One person was creative enough to place a bomb in his shoe, and wear it onto the airplane (CBC, 2009) .
Many people have turned sour note on the United States position on going “war” based on trying to find weapons of mass destruction, and when they could not find weapons of mass destruction, they have decided to stay there, upsetting many people not only many people not only in their own land but people in the land they are in right now (Associated Press, 2006). Many people though believe that the new security measures that have been placed have provided increased security for their safety. President Bush once stated that
“Today, our adversaries have changed. We no longer worry about a massive Soviet first strike. We worry about terrorist states and terrorist networks that might not be deterred by our nuclear forces. To deal with such adversaries we need a new approach to deterrence. This approach combines deep reductions in offensive nuclear forces with new, advanced conventional capabilities and defenses to protect free people from nuclear blackmail or attack” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium, 2007)
“In this war, we're on the offensive against the enemy -- and that's the only way to be. We'll fight them in foreign lands so we don't have to face them here in America. We'll pursue the terrorists across the world. We'll take every lawful and effective measure to protect ourselves here at home. In an age when terrorist networks and terrorist states are seeking weapons of mass destruction, we must be ready to defend our nation against every possible avenue of attack. I've come today to discuss the actions we're taking to keep our people safe -- and to update you on the progress of an initiative I announced on this very campus in 2001, and that is our efforts to defend America against a ballistic missile attack. My administration made a commitment to the American people then that we will defend you against all forms of terror -- including the terror that could arrive as a result of a missile. And we're keeping that commitment” (George W. Bush, US Policy Belgium, 2007)
The main stakeholders of this greater security situation would be everybody. The catastrophic situation of 9/11 affects everybody, from the blue collar Joe to the men and women in the military. Anybody who travels now has to deal with the increased time for security at airports, the border and customs (Canada Border Service Agency). All packages that go through customs now are check thoroughly so that items that are considered harmful are not delivered into the hands of the bad people. Though these time delays are much more extensive and can see more exhausting, these have been put in place so that atrocities like 9/11 don’t happen again. Not only have these measures been put up so that the people can be safe, but the American government has gone as far as to place the Patriot Act, in which the US government can detain you if they believe that you are capable or might perform an act of terrorism (USA Patriot Act, United States Government, 2001). The US government has the right to listing on your phone conversation.
“In January 2006, bin Laden warned the American people: "Operations are under preparation and you will see them on your own ground once they are finished." Seven months later, British authorities broke up the most ambitious known al-Qaeda threat related to the U.S. since the 9/11 attacks: a plot to blow up passenger airplanes flying to America. Our Intelligence Community believes that this plot was just two or three weeks away from execution. If it had been carried out, it could have rivaled 9/11 in death and destruction.” ( The White House, US Policy Belgium, 2007)
Work Cited
Airport Security. 15 June 2007. CBC. 29 Jan. 2009 <http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airportsecurity/>.
Border Wait Times. Canada Border Service Agency. 25 Jan. 2009 http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html.
Fact Sheet on Terroris Threat. 17 July 2007. United States Embassy. 2 Feb. 2009 <http://www.uspolicy.be/Article.asp?ID=FAA0A7B0-40C6-4048-92BC-A73F348A8B62
President Bush Discuss the Global War on Terror. 23 Oct. 2007. Embessy of the United States. 1 Feb. 2009 <http://www.uspolicy.be/Article.asp?ID=891AF132-09D1-4B9A-B14F-2FC021BD5467
Thousands Protest. 20 Mar. 2006. MSNBC. 1 Feb. 2009 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11887714
US Government Reacts. CBC. 29 Jan. 2009 <http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/secrethistory/timeline8.html
US Patriot Act. 24 Oct. 2001. United States Senate. 25 Jan. 2009 <http://epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html
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